Monday, an overcast and cold day, did not seem particularly busy at Disneyland Paris, with only a handful of people hauling suitcases as they queued at the entrance.

A street vendor outside the gates, peddling toy dogs for €5, pointed at the sky: “It depends on the weather. Once it starts raining, there are fewer people. But it gets busier towards the end of the week.”

The visitors who had braved the weather said they had enjoyed themselves but complained about the prices.

Daniel Knight, who had spent the past three days at the resort with his two children, said the package, including the hotel, had been very expensive at £1,900. But he added: “I’d definitely come back. This is my second time already.”

Despite the seemingly modest attendance, there were complaints about the long wait for certain rides at the weekend. “The queues were ridiculous. We had an hour wait each time,” Knight said.

Frenchman Lilian Dubiez and his wife, Agnès, were also unhappy about the queues. “We took a fast pass but it did not work at two attractions,” said Dubiez, as the couple headed back to Bordeaux with their daughter Elsa, who was trailing a Mickey Mouse balloon. “But it was still worth it.”

The feedback on one of the newest rides offers some hope for the resort’s owners as they seek a revival in visitor numbers. The Dubiez family said they particularly enjoyed Ratatouille: The Adventure, based on the animated film. The theme park invested a record €150m on the ride, which includes “trackless” technology and 3D projection, in the hope of attracting more families.

Sandro Giacomini, from Italy, who visited the resort with his children aged five and eight, said their experience had been good. But the food at Disney Village was “very expensive”. “The night before we went to a restaurant in Paris and it was very reasonable. Last night it cost €150 for just sandwiches and French fries,” he said.